I was given a Ticketmaster gift card for £100 last year – it was bought by a friend at WH Smith. When I came to use the card in July this year I was informed that it had expired.

Following a phone conversation with Ticketmaster support team, I was asked to write to its customer service team. In my letter, I pointed out that there is no indication on the front of the card that it "expires" a year after purchase. The relevant terms and conditions are printed on the back in small type but the card is fixed (like a new credit or debit card) to the mount card with glue and so this information is not obvious.

Ticketmaster has expressed sympathy but says it can do nothing and considers the matter closed. Is this fair?

KD, Gravesend

You pointed out in your letter to Ticketmaster that if there was a clear warning on the front of the card along the lines of "this card expires one year after purchase", there could be no argument, but that was not the case.

Instead, the expiry appeared in the small print, well out of sight once the card is mounted.

Guardian Money has warned about expiring vouchers before, and we believe that there should be an onus on the card/voucher supplier to clearly print any expiry dates on the front to prevent such misunderstandings. The Office of Fair Trading needs to look at this matter and decide whether consumers are being treated fairly.

We asked Ticketmaster about your case but it has refused to discuss it, saying its stands by its original decision to keep your £100.

Other potential purchasers be warned – if you want to give a friend tickets to see a show, physically buy them, or give them the money, as that never expires.

We welcome letters but cannot answer individually. Email us at consumer.champions@theguardian.com or write to Brignall & King, Money, The Guardian, 90 York Way, London N1 9GU. Please include a daytime phone number